YORK, ON, May 7, 2019 /CNW/ - CUPE Local 905 members will be holding an information picket tomorrow May 8th from 6:30-7:30pm at Michael Tibollo's $1,600 per plate fundraiser: "An evening of relaxation and conversation." As Minister of Culture, Tibollo is responsible for library funding. The provincial government recently announced a 50 per cent cut to Southern Ontario Library Service (SOLS) and Ontario Library Service North (OLSN). This devastating cut will disproportionally impact rural, northern and Indigenous communities that rely heavily on urban library services for their programming and service delivery. These two support services are used by libraries across York Region and New Tecumseth for the inter-library loan service (which has since been cut) and other services.

Speaking on behalf of library workers and concerned community members, CUPE Ontario Library Workers' Committee Chair, Kathy Coates, will state the urgency in addressing and reversing the provincial cuts to library services. She will speak on the exorbitant price tag for this cash-for-access dinner. While there are some that can afford to attend this fundraiser, Coates argues taxpayers should not have to pay that price tag to have their voices heard.